I set the alarm for 0415 as we were being picked up at 5am to go birding. Indeed we left the room at 0450 and the driver and guide were already there so we were able to leave immediately. We drove to the east to Abary Creek trail where we had a quick breakfast of coffee and cheese sandwiches. We then started to look for birds - first we saw the rufous crab hawk sitting in a roadside tree, this was quickly followed by watching and trying, with difficulty, to photo...

We awoke to rain hitting the palm roof so stayed in bed longer particularly as we heard and saw no movement outside. When I went to the bathroom I actually saw the bats we knew inhabited the roof and who left neat piles of droppings on the floor each morning.....they were flying around, catching insects and hanging upside down in the palm rafters. At 5.40 I went across to the dining area for coffee and initially was on my own drinking it. John had a shave and sho...

The day started with a coffee at 0530 under the tree near our lodge with the guides and other guests. At 6am ish we jumped into the back of a double cab pick up truck - Polly, Andrea and Jerry were inside - John, Martin and I were outside - great views and it was lovely to watch dawn breaking over the savannah as we drove along. We saw lots of fork tailed flycatchers out getting their breakfast and an American Falcon perched on top of a tree. Importantly we all w...

We were awake by 4.45 as we wanted to have pre walk tea at 5.45 prior to meeting Gabriel and walking to the Panorama trail which was up and onto a ridge, with wonderful panoramic views, close to the Lodge. It was a steep climb but when we got to the top we did have good views of the surrounding savannah and woodland. We could hear agouti shuffling around in the undergrowth but could not see them - on the bird front we saw a white tailed eagle, blue gray and palm ...

Up at 5.30 after a fitful sleep which saw me finishing writing yesterdays blog with head torch attached in an endeavour to tire myself out......it worked as I got another couple more hours sleep from 0330 to 0530. After a breakfast of eggs and bakes - with the now customary, for me, addition of peanut butter and jam all washed down with coffee we finished packing - a two minute job as most was done - and we headed to the landing to get on the boat. We were off...